Fastening of wheels, propellers and the like

ABSTRACT

An assembly enabling the hub of a wheel,impeller, propeller or the like applied over the free end of a shaft, to be moved towards or away from that free end of the shaft, the assembly consisting of a shear member in the form of a removable divided ring mounted in an axially fixed position in an annular groove formed in a parallel cylindrical pintle at the free end of the shaft and a reaction pressure ring comprising a ring body of a size to be a sliding fit on the pintle and having an annular pressure chamber at one end containing a fitting annular piston movable by introduction of a pressure liquid into the pressure chamber, the reaction pressure ring being in contact with the shear member and engaged or connected with the adjacent end of the hub to be moved so that on introduction of pressure into the pressure chamber the distance of the hub from the stationary shear member is changed.

United States Patent Bunyan Nov. 20, 1973 [75] Inventor: Thomas WalterBunyan, London,

England [73] Assignee: P & O Pilgrim Valve Limited,

London, England [22] Filed: June 28, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 157,641

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 820,878, May1, 1961,

abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. 29/252 [51] Int. Cl 823p 19/04 [58] Field of Search 29/252,243.52, 282

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,959,901 5/1934 Buehle29/252 X 3.031%,597 5/1962 Miller 29/252 X 3,104,459 9/1963 Wendt 29/252Primary ExaminerAndrew R. Juhasz Assistant Examiner-Leon GildenAtt0rneyWoodcock, Washbum, Kurtz &

Mackiewicz [57] ABSTRACT An assembly enabling the hub of awheel,impeller, propeller or the like applied over the free end of ashaft, to be moved towards or away from that free end of the shaft, theassembly consisting of a shear member in the form of a removable dividedring mounted in an axially fixed position in an annular groove formed ina parallel cylindrical pintle at the free end of the shaft and areaction pressure ring comprising a ring body of a size to be a slidingfit on the pintle and having an annular pressure chamber at one endcontaining a fitting annular piston movable by introduction of apressure liquid into the pressure chamber, the reaction pressure ringbeing in contact with the shear member and engaged or connected with theadjacent end of the hub to be moved so that on introduction of pressureinto the pressure chamber the distance of the hub from the stationaryshear member is changed.

PATENTEDRnvzo I975 3,772,759 SHEET 2 BF 2 FASTENING F WHEELS, PROPELLERSAND THE LIKE This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 820,878,filed May 1, 1961, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a method of moving the hub of a wheel,a ships propeller, an impeller or the like to achieve and thereaftermaintain a desired mounted location thereof on a shaft over which thehub has been preliminarily applied or to displace a hub from such a setmounted position, the invention being of particular utility for movingthe hubs of objects of great weight and size often required to be keyedor force-fitted to a shaft.

Ships propellers for example are usually mounted on propeller shaftshaving a tapered tailshaft portion near their free ends on which thecorrespondingly internally tapered hubs of the propellers are fitted,the torque transmission connection being achieved by the use of keys, byendwise force-fitting or both, and the final endwise locating movementof the. hub of the propeller on the shaft and retention in the locatedposition has been achieved by the use of a nut screwed upon ascrew-threaded parallel free end portion, hereinafter termed the pintle,at the extremity of the shaft.

With large shafts and propellers in common use today the size of nutrequired for this purpose has become so great, they often exceed twotons in weight, that the combined efforts of several men have beenrequired merely to screw the nut along the threads on the pintle andfurthermore there is an ever-present possibility of the nut seizing onthe threads of the pintle.

These difficulties have made necessary a preliminary meticulous cleaningof the threads of both the nut and the pintle followed by carefulapplication of an extremely high pressure lubricant.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of movingthe hub ofa wheel, propeller, impeller or the like on a shaft in thedirection away from the free end of the shaft into a required setmounted position by means accessible at the side of the hub nearest thefree end of the shaft and retaining it in such set mounted positionwithout the need for a threaded nut screwed on the pintle.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of movingthe hub ofa wheel; impeller, propeller or the like from such a setmounted position in the direction towards the free end of the shaft bymeans accessible at the side of the hub nearest the free end of theshaft, again without the need for a threaded nut screwed on the pintle.

The invention comprises a method of effecting relative axial movementbetween a shaft and a hub applied over the free end of the shaft, saidmethod consisting in applying a detachable shear member or members in apredetermined axially fixed and radially outwardly projecting positionto the pintle of the shaft, applying a reaction pressure ring of slidingfit on said pintle, said reaction pressure ring comprising a ring bodyhaving an annular chamber at one end containing a fitting annular pistonmovable axially of the ring body by the introduction ofa pressure liquidinto said chamber from the exterior to increase the overall thickness ofthe reaction pressure ring, engaging said reaction pressure ring withtheradially outwardly projecting part or parts of said shear member ormembers and engaging or connecting said reaction pressure ring with theend of the hub nearest the shear member on the pintle, introducingpressure liquid into the chamber in the reaction pressure ring to movethe annular piston and increase the overall thickness of the reactionpressure ring and thereby change the distance between the hub and theaxially fixed shear member or members.

The invention further consists in an assembly for use in moving the hubof a wheel, impeller, propeller or the like applied over the end of ashaft, in the direction away from the free end of the shaft into adesired position on the shaft by a method as above set forth and forretaining the hub in the desired mounted position, the assemblycomprising a split or divided annular shear member detachably mounted inan axially fixed position in a circumferential channel in the pintle ofthe shaft with a part of the shear member extending radially outwards ofsaid pintle, a reaction pressure ring of a size for sliding engagementon said pintle, said reaction pressure ring comprising a ring bodyhaving an annular chamber at one end containing a fitting annular pistonmovable axially of the ring body by the introduction of pressure liquidinto the annular chamber from the exterior to increase the overallthickness of the reaction pressure ring, said reaction pressure ringbeing mounted between the shear member and the adjacent end of the huband in contact with the shear member, and retaining screws extending incompression between the reaction pressure ring and the adjacent end ofthe hub when the hub is in the set mounted position.

The invention further consists in an assembly for use in moving the hubof a wheel, impeller, propeller or the like mounted on a shaft, in thedirection towards the free end of the shaft by the method as set forthabove to displace it from the set mounted position on the shaft, saidassembly comprising a split or divided annular shear member detachablymounted in an axially fixed position in a circumferential channel in thepintle of the shaft with the outer portion of the shear member extendingradially outwards of said pintle, a reaction pressure ring of a size forsliding engagement on said pintle, said reaction pressure ringcomprising a ring body having an annular chamber at one end containing afitting annular piston movable axially of the ring body by introductionof pressure liquid into the annular chamber from the exterior toincrease the overall thickness of the reaction pressure ring saidreaction pressure ring being mounted on the pintle with the annularpiston in contact with the shear member at the side thereof away fromthe adjacent end of the hub to be moved and screws or bolts connected intension between said reaction pressure ring and the hub to be moved.

Arrangements for use in carrying out the invention are illustrated byway of example in the accompanying drawings as applied to the mountingand removal of a ship's propeller.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in sectional side elevation taken on the line l-I ofFIG. 2 of a part of the tapered end part of a ships propeller shaft anda part of a correspondingly internally tapered hub of a ships propellerapplied over the tapered end part of the shaft and means for moving thehub on the shaft in the direction away from the free end of the shaft toachieve a force-fitted mounted position of the hub on the shaft andmeans for retaining the hub in the force-fitted and set mountedposition.

FIG. 2 is a view in end elevation taken from the righthand end of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a view in sectional side elevation showing a rearrangement ofparts for use in moving the hub in the direction towards the free end ofthe shaft to break the force-fitted mounted connection of the hub withthe shaft.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, represents a part of apropeller tailshaft including a tapered portion 11 terminating in areduced smooth parallel cylindrical free end portion 12, termed thepintle, and 13 is a part of the hub of a propeller 14, of internal tapersimilar to that of the tapered portion 11 of the tailshaft applied overthe tailshaft and required to be moved a final short distance axiallyalong the tailshaft in the direction away from the pintle 12 in order toobtain in the case illustrated in FIG. 1, a force-taper fit of the hub13 on the tapered part 11 of the tailshaft 10.

For effecting this axial movement there is mounted on the pintle 12 aninternally smooth reaction pressure ring 15 of a size to be a guidedsliding fit on the pintle 12 and to be capable of engaging the outerface 26 of the applied hub 13. The reaction pressure ring 15 comprises aring body 16 of forged steel having an annular groove 17 formed in oneend face thereof, and an annular piston 18 fitting the groove 17 andmovable outwards of the groove and axially of the ring 15 uponintroduction ofa hydraulic pressure medium under pressure from anyconvenient external source through a passage leading through thereaction ring 15 into the annular groove 17, in such a manner as toincrease the overall thickness of the reaction pressure ring 15.

In the example shown, a tire 19 of nitrile rubber is contained in thebottom of the annular groove 17 in the reaction pressure ring 15, andhigh pressure grease or other hydraulic medium is introduced from theexterior by way of a tube or pipe 20 in screwed engagement with acoupler 21 mounted in a radial boring in the reaction pressure ring 15,the coupler 21 being in screwed connection with a metal block 22 housedin a recess in the bottom of the annular groove 17 and itself providedwith an axially directed tubular extension 23 entering through the wallof the tire 19. Such an arrangement permits the use of very highhydraulic pressure applied in the reaction pressure ring 15 without riskof leakage.

A circumferential groove 24 is formed in the surface of the pintle 12preferably of rectangular section as shown, and a split shear ring 25formed of two or more separable arcuate parts, fitted in thecircumferential groove 24 with part of the composite shear ring 25extending radially outwards of the surface of the pintle 12.

The split shear ring 25 when mounted constitutes an abutment member in aposition which is fixed axially of the shaft 10.

The dimensions of the reaction pressure ring 15 and the position of theshear member 25 are selected so that with the annular piston 18retracted wholly or mainly into the annular groove 17 in the reactionpressure ring, the reaction pressure ring may occupy and substantiallyspan the gap between the shear member 25 and the end face 26 of a hub 13preliminarily applied over the tapered part 11 of the shaft 10, thereaction pressure ring making contact with the shear member 25.

As an example, location of the circumferential groove 24 and the shearring 25 mounted therein, at a point about one third of the length of thepintle 12 from the free end thereof, has been found appropriate andconvenient.

On the forward end of the reaction pressure ring 15 is mounted aretainer ring 27 (FIGS. 1 and 2) of larger diameter than the reactionpressure ring 15 and having an internal flange 28, preferably ofdovetail form in section as shown fitting snugly in a circumferentialrecess of corresponding shape formed in the outer peripheral edge of theforward end of the reaction pressure ring 15.

With the retainer ring 27 and the reaction pressure ring 15 applied overthe pintle l2 and the end of the annular piston 18 in engagement withthe end face 26 of the hub 13 as shown in FIG. 1, the parts of the splitshear ring 25 are introduced into the circumferential groove 24 in thepintle l2 and retained in position by means of a number ofcircumferentially distributed tap bolts 29 passed through holes in thesplit shear ring and screwed into threaded holes in the rear end of thereaction pressure ring 15.

Hydraulic pressure is now introduced into the tire 19 in the pressurechamber constituted by the annular groove 17 to urge the piston 18outwards of the groove 17, thus increasing the overall thickness of thereaction pressure ring and forcing the hub 13 axially along the shaft 10into the required mounted position of forcefitted engagement with thetapered part 11 of the shaft.

With the hydraulic pressure at least partially maintained, a number ofgrub screws 30 are introduced into circumferentially distributedscrew-threaded holes in the retainer ring 27 and into firm engagementwith the end face 26 of the hub 13, final relief of the hydraulicpressure in the reaction pressure ring 15 resulting in application of anadded compressive load on the grub screws 30 corresponding to a part ofthe push-up load on the hub.

Prior to introduction of the grub screws 30 a drill may be appliedthrough the holes in the retainer ring 27 to form depressions such asare shown at 31 in FIG. 1 in the end face 26 of the hub 13 for thereception of the ends of the subsequently applied grub screws so thatany possibility of relative rotation between the retainer ring 27 andthe mounted hub 13 is avoided.

Alternatively the depression 31 may be pre-formed in the face 26 of thehub 13.

In FIG. 3 an assembly of parts is shown for displacing a hub 13 axiallyof the shaft from a set mounted position in the direction towards thefree end of the shaft in order to break the force-fitted engagementbetween the hub and the tapered part 11 of the shaft as a first step inthe removal of the propeller from the shaft.

For this operation the grub screws 30 in the retaining ring 27 of FIG. 1are removed, with, if necessary, a preliminary application of hydraulicpressure in the chamber 17 to relieve the compression pressure on thegrub screws, and thereafter the bolts 29 are removed to permitextraction of the parts of the shear member 25 from the circumferentialgroove 24 and removal of the reaction pressure ring 15 and retainer ring27 by sliding from the pintle 12 of the shaft.

The shear member 25 is now remounted in the circumferential groove 24 asshown in FIG. 3 and the reaction pressure ring 15 slid over the pintle12 of the shaft into a position with the formerly rear end thereofagainst the outer or rear surface of the shear member 25 as shown inFIG. 3.

A stiff backing plate 32 is applied against the rear end of the reactionpressure ring and two or more adjustable studs 33 bearing nuts 34applied through holes in the backing plate 32 and screwed into preparedthreaded holes 35 in the end face 26 of the hub 13.

In this case introduction of hydraulic pressure into the tire 19 in thepressure chamber 17 causes displacement of the backing plate 32 by theannular piston 18 and the hub 13 to be drawn along the shaft in thedirection towards the outer or free end of the shaft to disengage theforce-fit of the hub 13 from the tapered part 11 of the shaft.

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly for moving a hub applied over the free end of a shaftrelative to the shaft comprising:

a divided shear member adapted to be detachably mounted in an axiallyfixed position in a recess on a pintle portion of the shaft with part ofthe said shear member extending radially outwards from the pintleportion;

a selfcontained reaction pressure ring adapted to be applied over thepintle portion, said reaction pressure ring comprising a ring body of asize for sliding engagement on the pintle portion and having an annularpressure chamber in one end face and an annular piston fitting in saidannular pressure chamber and movable axially of the ring body forengaging one end of the hub, inflatable tire means contained in saidannular pressure chamber between said ring body and said annular piston,and a passage from the exterior of said ring body connected with saidtire means for the introduction of pressure liquid into said tire meansfrom the exterior to increase the overall thickness of said reactionpressure ring by moving said piston outwardly of said chamber againstthe hub, a retainer ring of larger diameter than said reaction pressurering mounted on the same end of said ring body as said piston, means tocouple said body of said reaction pressure ring to said shear member,and means carried by said retainer ring for engagement in compressionwith the hub to maintain the endwise pressure on the hub when thehydraulic pressure in said tire I shear member is fixedly connected withthe end of said reaction pressure ring away from the annular pressurechamber containing the said annular piston.

3. An assembly for moving a hub relative to the shaft comprising:

a divided shear member adapted to be detachably mounted in an axiallyfixed position in a recess on the pintle portion of the shaft with partof the said shear member extending radially outwards from the pintleportion;

A self-contained reaction pressure ring adapted to be removably mountedon the pintle portion and in engagement with said shear member, saidreaction pressure ring comprising a ring body ofa size for slidingengagement on the pintle portion and having an annular groove formed inone end face thereof away from said shear member, and an annular pistonfitting said groove and movable outwardly of said groove and axially ofsaid ring body upon introduction of a hydraulic pressure medium underpressure into said annular groove from the exterior to increase theoverall thickness of said reaction pressure ring, a backing plate inabutting engagement with said annular piston, means for connecting saidbacking plate and the hub in tension, and means including said annularpiston for moving the hub relative to the shaft.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein inflatable tire means iscontained in said annular groove between the bottom thereof and saidannular piston, and a passage from the exterior connected with said tiremeans to receive the hydraulic medium under pressure for increasing theoverall thickness of said reaction pressure ring.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein the passage to said tiremeans comprises tubular structure extending radially through said ringbody to a recess in the bottom of said annular groove and cooperatingwith an axially directed tubular extension entering through a wall ofsaid tire means thereby permitting the use of very high hydraulicpressure applied in said reaction pressure ring in avoidance of leakage.

1. An assembly for moving a hub applied over the free end of a shaftrelative to the shaft comprising: a divided shear member adapted to bedetachably mounted in an axially fixed position in a recess on a pintleportion of the shaft with part of the said shear member extendingradially outWards from the pintle portion; a self-contained reactionpressure ring adapted to be applied over the pintle portion, saidreaction pressure ring comprising a ring body of a size for slidingengagement on the pintle portion and having an annular pressure chamberin one end face and an annular piston fitting in said annular pressurechamber and movable axially of the ring body for engaging one end of thehub, inflatable tire means contained in said annular pressure chamberbetween said ring body and said annular piston, and a passage from theexterior of said ring body connected with said tire means for theintroduction of pressure liquid into said tire means from the exteriorto increase the overall thickness of said reaction pressure ring bymoving said piston outwardly of said chamber against the hub, a retainerring of larger diameter than said reaction pressure ring mounted on thesame end of said ring body as said piston, means to couple said body ofsaid reaction pressure ring to said shear member, and means carried bysaid retainer ring for engagement in compression with the hub tomaintain the endwise pressure on the hub when the hydraulic pressure insaid tire means is released.
 2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1wherein the said shear member is fixedly connected with the end of saidreaction pressure ring away from the annular pressure chamber containingthe said annular piston.
 3. An assembly for moving a hub relative to theshaft comprising: a divided shear member adapted to be detachablymounted in an axially fixed position in a recess on the pintle portionof the shaft with part of the said shear member extending radiallyoutwards from the pintle portion; A self-contained reaction pressurering adapted to be removably mounted on the pintle portion and inengagement with said shear member, said reaction pressure ringcomprising a ring body of a size for sliding engagement on the pintleportion and having an annular groove formed in one end face thereof awayfrom said shear member, and an annular piston fitting said groove andmovable outwardly of said groove and axially of said ring body uponintroduction of a hydraulic pressure medium under pressure into saidannular groove from the exterior to increase the overall thickness ofsaid reaction pressure ring, a backing plate in abutting engagement withsaid annular piston, means for connecting said backing plate and the hubin tension, and means including said annular piston for moving the hubrelative to the shaft.
 4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 whereininflatable tire means is contained in said annular groove between thebottom thereof and said annular piston, and a passage from the exteriorconnected with said tire means to receive the hydraulic medium underpressure for increasing the overall thickness of said reaction pressurering.
 5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein the passage to saidtire means comprises tubular structure extending radially through saidring body to a recess in the bottom of said annular groove andcooperating with an axially directed tubular extension entering througha wall of said tire means thereby permitting the use of very highhydraulic pressure applied in said reaction pressure ring in avoidanceof leakage.